Transparency in Governance — Definition

Definition

Transparency in governance means making relevant information about public decisions, procedures and resource use available in a timely, understandable and usable form. It includes reasons and context, not merely uploading documents.

The purpose is to enable informed participation, scrutiny and correction of errors. Transparency operates within the applicable legal framework, including lawful protection of information. It is therefore neither indiscriminate publication nor a promise that every record is secret.

Its value depends on whether people can understand what happened, identify the responsible authority and use an appropriate review route. Information without a connection to action may reveal a problem while leaving accountability incomplete.